Dugout Bench Shading System

ABSTRACT

A dugout bench shading system includes an inner fence and an outer fence oriented perpendicular to each other. Each of the inner and outer fences has an upper edge and a bench is positioned between the inner and outer fences. A flexible panel has a top side, a bottom side, a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. Each of plurality of straps has a first end and a second end. The first ends are each attached to the panel such that each of the front and rear edges each has at least three of the straps attached thereto. Each of the second ends includes a clasp. The clasps each releasably engage one of the inner and outer fences such that the panel extends over the bench.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to shading devices and more particularly pertains to a new shading device for a dugout shading device for positioning over a bench within a dugout to shade persons sitting on the bench.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an inner fence and an outer fence oriented perpendicular to each other. Each of the inner and outer fences has an upper edge and a bench is positioned between the inner and outer fences. A flexible panel has a top side, a bottom side, a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. Each of plurality of straps has a first end and a second end. The first ends are each attached to the panel such that each of the front and rear edges each has at least three of the straps attached thereto. Each of the second ends comprises a clasp. The clasps each releasably engage one of the upper edges of the inner and outer fences such that the panel extends over the bench.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken top perspective view of a dugout bench shading system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area “2” of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new shading device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the dugout bench shading system 10 generally comprises a conventional dugout 12 including an inner fence 14 and an outer fence 16 oriented perpendicular to each other wherein each of the inner 14 and outer 16 fences has an upper edge 18. A bench 20 is positioned between the inner 14 and outer 16 fences. The term “dugout” is being used for conventional areas adjacent to a baseball or softball diamond. While such structures may include top coverings, the system 10 discussed herein is to be used with those that are not already covered such that the bench 20 is exposed to the elements, particularly including sun and rain. Typically the inner fence 14 may have a height greater than the outer fence 16.

A panel 22 is provided which has a top side 24, a bottom side 26, a front edge 28, a rear edge 30, a first lateral edge 32 and a second lateral edge 34. The panel 22 is flexible and may be comprised of a cloth material that may include natural or synthetic materials woven together such that the panel 22 is air permeable. The panel 22 may be water resistant. The panel 22 has a length from the first lateral edge 32 to the second lateral edge 34 between 10.0 feet and 18.0 feet and a width from the front edge 28 to the rear edge 26 between 5.0 feet and 7.0 feet.

A plurality of straps 36 is also provided. Each of the straps 36 has a first end 38 and a second end 40 and each of the first ends 38 is attached to the panel 22 such that each of the front 28 and rear 30 edges have at least three of the straps 36 attached thereto. Each of the second ends 40 comprises a clasp 42. Each clasp 42 releasably engages one the inner 14 and outer 16 fences adjacent to the upper edges 18 such that the panel 22 extends over the bench 20. However, it should be understood that the inner 14 and outer 16 fences may comprise chain link fences allowing the clasps 42 to be attached anywhere to the inner 14 and outer 16 fences along their height. Thus, the panel 22 may be mounted so that it angled downwardly from the inner fence 14 to the outer 16 fence to cause fluid to drain off of the panel 12. Each of the straps 36 attached to the rear edge 30 may have a length less than 12.0 inches. Each of the straps 36 attached to the front edge 28 has an adjustable length and is adjustable between 12.0 inches and 24.0 inches.

In use, the panel 12 is attached to the outer 14 and inner 16 fences as described above and as shown in the Figures. The user of the system 10 will then typically sits on the bench 20 and benefits from the shading offered by the panel 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A dugout shade providing system comprising: a dugout including an inner fence and an outer fence oriented parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer fences having an upper edge, a bench being positioned between said inner and outer fences; a panel having a top side, a bottom side, a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said panel being flexible; and a plurality of straps, each of said straps having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being attached to said panel such that each of said front and rear edges each has at least three of said straps attached thereto, each of said second ends comprising a clasp, each clasp releasably engaging one of said inner and outer fences such that said panel extends over said bench.
 2. The dugout shade providing system according to claim 1, wherein said panel is air permeable.
 3. The dugout shade providing system according to claim 1, wherein said panel is comprised of a cloth material.
 4. The dugout shade providing system according to claim 2, wherein said panel has a length from said first lateral edge to said second lateral edge between 10.0 feet and 18.0 feet and a width from said front edge to said rear edge between 5.0 feet and 7.0 feet.
 5. The dugout shade providing system according to claim 1, wherein each of said straps attached to said rear edge has a length less than 12.0 inches, each of said straps attached to said front edge having an adjustable length and being adjustable between 12.0 inches and 24.0 inches.
 6. A dugout shade providing system comprising: a dugout including an inner fence and an outer fence oriented parallel to each other, each of said inner and outer fences having an upper edge, a bench being positioned between said inner and outer fences; a panel having a top side, a bottom side, a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said panel being flexible, said panel being air permeable, said panel being comprised of a cloth material, said panel having a length from said first lateral edge to said second lateral edge between 10.0 feet and 18.0 feet and a width from said front edge to said rear edge between 5.0 feet and 7.0 feet; and a plurality of straps, each of said straps having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being attached to said panel such that each of said front and rear edges each has at least three of said straps attached thereto, each of said second ends comprising a clasp, each clasp releasably engaging one of said inner and outer fences such that said panel extends over said bench, each of said straps attached to said rear edge having a length less than 12.0 inches, each of said straps attached to said front edge having an adjustable length and being adjustable between 12.0 inches and 24.0 inches. 